Are you worried your car will be towed without your knowledge? If, for whatever reason, you think your car may be in danger of being towed, here are some tips that will make it more difficult for the tow truck operator.

These techniques may just make the tow truck move on to the next vehicle on their list, or at least give you time to run to your car's rescue. Although useful, these steps will not make your car completely "un-towable". Nothing is un-towable, but with enough effort, or the right equipment, you can make it so difficult that many tow truck drivers will report to their dispatch that it is un-towable, or at the least, difficult enough as to not be worth their time.

Important: Knowing your Drive Wheels

When a car is being towed, it MUST have its driver side wheels off the ground or else serious damage can be done to the transmission or other components.

It doesn't get any easier for a tow truck operator than when they can back their truck right up to your car, attach to your drive wheels, lift them up, and drive away with your other two wheels rolling freely. A lot of the tips in this article have to do with forcing the tow truck to go to the extra effort of lifting up all 4 wheels, and hopefully causing enough complications that they just won't bother. For this reason, it is important to know whether your vehicle is front or rear-wheel drive.

Front-wheel drive, just as it sounds, is when the engine sends power to the front wheels only, and the back wheels can spin freely - this is by far the most common configuration on today's cars, and if you aren't sure what you have, this is the best guess.

Rear-wheel drive is just the opposite, when the power is delivered to the back wheels and the front wheels spin freely - this is most common on trucks, sports cars, and cars built before the 1970's.

If you have an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, then you're in luck - the tow truck already has to lift all the tires to avoid damaging any of the drive-train components of your car. However, there are still some things you can do to make it harder for that to happen.

7 Tips To Make Towing Your Car More Difficult

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[[Image:Idiot Parking - Irving Street, San Francisco 6AKP394 6-21-08 (2 of 2).jpg|left|177px|thumb|Don't park on the curb because the tow truck driver can easily get a dolly under your tire

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It's best to park with your tires just touching the curb to prevent the dolly from being placed under your tire. Most tow truck designs require there to be a little bit of space around the wheel to safely secure the bracket or dolly to the tire. It is best to do this with both the front and back tire, but it is especially important to have one of your drive wheels touching the curb, as these must be lifted off the ground in order to tow the vehicle.

Most vehicle's parking brakes act on the rear wheels only, so this is a great tip for front-wheel drive cars (which most of today's popular models are). The front wheels must be lifted because they are attached to the transmission, and now the rear wheels must also be lifted because the brakes are locked on. Like the above tip, this one requires the tow truck operator to at least take longer to hook up your car - or maybe even take an easier-to-tow vehicle first.

This is especially useful on a rear-wheel drive vehicle, as the back wheels have to be lifted off the ground in order to prevent damage to the transmission - and now the front wheels also have to be lifted or else the car will not tow straight. At a minimum, this will at least make the tow truck operator take longer to attach your vehicle, as they will now have to use dollies, or leave and come back with a flatbed truck - giving you more time to move your car yourself. Note that if the steering wheel locks in the turned position on you, and the key won't turn to start the car, you have to simultaneously turn the steering wheel and the ignition key to release the lock.

If your car doesn't have the automatic steering wheel lock function in the previous tip, then you can use a steering wheel club to achieve the same affect. Also, since the club is an anti-theft deterrent, it aids in preventing your car from being stolen as wel.

Like many of the other tips, this also requires the tow truck driver to lift all of your wheels off the ground, however it would likely interfere with most dolly or bracket systems, possibly preventing the operator from hooking up your car at all.

While drastic and time-consuming, this method is almost sure to challenge any tow truck driver that was planning on taking your vehicle away. However, this may just call extra attention to the vehicle, and cause it to be taken more seriously by authorities and towed for other reasons such as blocking a street, or being a neighborhood eyesore. Like the other methods, this would also work best if a free-spinning (non-drive) wheel is removed, although it would likely also cause a problem on the drive wheels, as the tow bar would not fit properly.

Can your car be towed if you are touching it?

No, if you are physically touching your vehicle, the tow truck driver will need to get you away from the vehicle so they can continue the towing job safely. There are "reality" shows out today on TV that may show differently, but they are made-for-TV drama. If you are physically preventing the car from being towed, the driver will have to call the police to escort you away. Keep in mind though, that if the truck is legally towing your vehicle, and the police have to get involved, you may be fined or charged with some form of obstruction.

Can tow trucks tow from the back of the car?

Tow trucks can almost always hook up to either the front or the back of the vehicle being towed. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, this is actually the most common method, as they must lift the drive wheels off the ground. A front or all-wheel drive vehicle can also be towed from the back, but the front wheels must also be elevated by using some sort of dolly.

How to keep a roll-back or flatbed tow truck from towing a car.

A rollback, or slide, is the name for a tow truck with a flat bed that tilts back so that a vehicle can be rolled onto the tow truck. This method of towing is often used for towing odd-shaped, large, or damaged vehicles, but it is common as well for everyday cars.

The driver of the flatbed needs to position their truck in line with the car to be towed so that they can winch the car up onto the truck. The only way to prevent this is to park your vehicle somewhere where there is no space for the flatbed truck either in front or behind your car.

Towing Laws That May Help Prevent Your Car From Being Towed In California

California has a few anti-towing laws that are more strict than some other jurisdictions.

State law makes it illegal for a tow truck driver to haul away your car if you are present.

California Vehicle Code 22658 states that your car cannot be towed from any private residential complex with at least 15 apartments unless some stringent conditions are met.

Somebody must call the tow company requesting the removal of the vehicle, and be there in person to sign the tow-away document as well as provide their full name, home address and phone number.

Questions and Answers

Can a car be towed while the driver is in the car?

No, for insurance purposes, the tow truck driver cannot tow the vehicle with you inside. Not all tow truck drivers are the "sharpest tools in the shed" however, so it depends on the knowledge of the tow truck driver. If you find yourself in this situation, insist that he call his dispatcher for approval. Also legally, no one (unless arrested) is allowed to take you somewhere forcibly. If a tow truck driver were to tow your car with you in it, it could potentially be considered kidnapping. On the other hand, if the tow truck driver is towing the vehicle under direction from the police or some other authority, the police may then charge you with obstruction or some other offense. He would have to arrest you, to legally remove you from the vehicle so it can be towed.

No, if the driver is still in the car it cannot be towed for the driver can be harmed while being in the car during a tow. The tow truck driver will need to find a way to get the driver out of the car for the car to be towed successfully.

Is it true that you can't tow a front wheel drive car from the rear?

A front wheel drive vehicle should never be towed from the rear.
When a vehicle is in operation, the engine is delivering energy to the transmission and drive shaft that in turn rotates the wheels. The process can also happen in reverse. If the wheels are turning as the vehicle is towed, it will put the moving parts along the power train in motion. Because the engine is not running, oil and transmission fluid are not being distributed. Lack of lubrication can cause friction, resulting in major damage to the vehicle's engine.
Your front wheels are the drive wheels. This means they are the ones powered by the drive shaft and transmission. These wheels should only be moving under power. They should be immobile while the vehicle is in tow, by lifting them off the ground with a dolly or flatbed.

Normally that is true, because the transmission can become damaged. Now if you disconnect and remove the drive shaft, or use a lube pump to keep transmission cool while car is off, you can tow it from the rear.

What should I do while waiting for the tow truck to come?

You have to push your car to the side of the road to allow space for motorists to get by you. This will also be easier for the tow truck to position itself to hook the car and not block traffic while he is doing it.

After moving your car to the side of the road, if you can, put on your hazard lights. If the car is not responding at all, a reflective triangle will notify others that your car is in trouble. You can buy one of these at most hardware stores.

To be safe, collect all your important things you have the car. Who knows if where they take your car is secure enough that people won't break into your car. Especially if it's nighttime, you should stay inside the car with the window an inch open to allow air to come in. Remember, depending on where you are waiting for the tow truck, you are in a very vulnerable position. Be safe. Don't let anyone talk their way into your car. They might want to rob you, or be unaware your car has broken down, and have their eye on stealing it, or your things, or your wallet - you get the idea..

When the tow truck arrives, jot down out the name of the driver, and the tow truck's license number.

If you've called a tow truck and you're waiting, get the information on the vehicle ready for the tow truck driver, to make the process go as smooth as possible.

Can the police force you to have your vehicle towed if it has a flat? *32?

Yes, they can force you to move your car if it has a flat tire in a private area that doesn't allow your vehicle to be there, or if you have a flat in a particularly busy area where you car has become a danger to other drivers.

It depends on where you have a flat tire. If it's on the freeway where it may be obstructing the other vehicles and your car may cause further accidents, you definitely going to get towed. If it's in a less crowded area, a flat tire may not always lead to getting towed, unless of course you are violating certain traffic rules.

Can a tow truck move one car to get to another?

No, a tow truck cannot legally move one car to get to another, but that is not to say that they won't do it anyway at times. In some situations, they may get a special order to ask the owner if they can move their vehicle.

Can a tow company tow a car if there are no tires?

Depending on the situation, they will use a rope or chain to pull your car up onto the flatbed in order to tow the vehicle. In certain situations they may not tow, but they can always find a way, so it is up to the tow truck driver,

No, it would be very difficult for a tow truck driver to tow a vehicle with no tires. In order to tow your vehicle, the driver must find a way to place tires on your vehicle so that they can enforce the towing of your vehicle. I have in fact witnessed a tow truck driver place tires on a vehicle in order to tow the vehicle from its location.

Can parking a truck backwards keep it from being towed?

No, it will not prevent it from being towed if there is a way to either get in front of the truck or a way for them to use a chain to pull your vehicle up onto their flatbed, they will do it. Sometimes, people get lucky when the tow truck driver decides it's too much trouble and not worth his time to tow your vehicle.

No, the vehicle can still be towed even if it is parked backwards. The tow truck will simply chain your vehicle up and drag it onto the back of the tow truck bed. After knowing this information it is important to understand that parking backwards will not stop your vehicle from being towed.

Is it illegal to leave your car up on a car lift?

No, as long as the lift is either owned by the driver of the vehicle or the driver has permission to use the lift that the car is on.

No, it is not illegal for you to have your vehicle parked on a lift but if a tow truck driver approaches you about the situation so that they can tow your vehicle, and you do not follow his orders, that situation can be considered illegal. If you know that your vehicle is in danger of being towed, then it will be in your best interest to not place your vehicle on a lift to exasperate the situation.

Does having a club on your car make it harder for them to repo your car?

Yes. Most repo men do not have their own tow trucks. They will have a set of keys either made or given to them by the lending institution, but a club stops them from driving away. Now they have to get a tow truck involved which decreases their pay. The amount the bank is paying the repo man depends on the value of the vehicle in question. This would be a deterrent only if it makes the job unprofitable, so it would work best on lower end cars.

Be warned - your car can still be towed with or without the club on your car, repo men usually have a tow truck on standby in the area. This will not stop the tow truck from being able to pull your car onto the flatbed. The club will only help when it comes to stealing your car, or a repo man driving your car away.

Can't start my truck front tires locked?

This means your engine and tires are engaged via your transmission assuming your truck is front wheel drive. If you have a manual transmission then it is likely that your clutch has ceased up. If you have an automatic transmission this is less likely the cause. Usually, automatic transmission failures do not cause your tires to lock up. The reason you cannot start the vehicle is because the starter motor would have to turn not just the engine, but also move the car, which it's not strong enough to do.

Try to move the steering wheel slightly in either direction and hold it there while keeping your foot on the break. If you wiggle it around you will find a spot that will allow you to disengage the lock and turn the key.

Can you put a truck on flat bed if it's turned the wrong way?

Yes, trucks can in fact be placed on the flatbed if it is in the wrong direction. The truck can be towed and placed on the flatbed either front end forward or back end forward. Every time you see a tow truck with a flatbed pass by, you'll notice the car can be facing either way.

Ideally, the vehicle should be placed on the flatbed facing forward, but depending on the situation, the tow truck driver can pick up the vehicle as they see fit.

How to prevent your car from being repossessed if you don't have enough money to pay the bank?

There are a number of tactics that you can use to avoid having your car repossessed, but understand that these options are all not %100 safe. They can, in fact, use special means to repossess your car if necessary.

Below are a number of tips that you can try to avoid having your car repossessed:

-Park your car in between two other cars to not make it difficult to be towed

-Park your car in a different location - other than your home, to avoid having your car located

-Park your car in your garage, so it isn't easily accessible.

-Park your car and place a tarp over it to make it difficult for the tow truck drivers to find.

I'm late with car payments and they are going to repo my car. Any ideas?

I'm 3 months late on my car payments. My back got messed up and I couldn't work. Want to go to the Court today to file bankruptcy.

You can file for bankruptcy to help prevent further troubles with the bank constantly after you to pay your debt, but that won't prevent repossession of your car. That is the usual policy of banks when it comes to late payments. If you really want to resolve it, you may want to go have a discussion with your bank and see if they can make revisions in terms of payments. It is very important to make sure that you communicate with your bank regularly. This way they won't think you'll run away from your debt.

I'm just curious about predatory towing, and how is it legal?

I'm just curious about predatory towing. Can you explain it?

The term "Predatory Towing" is often used incorrectly. It is against the law for a tow company to remove a legally parked vehicle.
Predatory towing occurs when a tow truck removes an illegally parked vehicle without dispatch or permission from the owner. For instance, a car may be parked too close to a driveway entrance according to city laws, and get towed. You may have thought you'd parked okay, but even a few inches can make the difference. So the tow truck driver, in a very grey area of the law, removes the illegally parked car, but without a complaint from the homeowner, or a police directing him to do so. To fight the fee, you would need to prove that the tow truck had no permission to remove your vehicle. This would mean that the tow company had no contract with the city or place of business to remove illegally parked cars.

Do you have knowledge of discharging debt?

Good morning. I sent a debt validation letter to Progressive via email and from the email I sent my insurance did not renew.

Sending a debt validation letter is totally legal in the United States. In fact, it's encouraged; the act of verifying your debt allows you to make sure that you're being treated fairly by the creditors in paying your debts. It also allows the creditor to make sure that by treating you fairly you'll come back to them for your future credit needs. However, there are some things you need to remember when you send a debt validation letter, especially to an insurance company:

When you send a debt validation letter, it is illegal for the creditor to charge you for the debt until they give you an adequate response. In the case of an insurance company, they may suspend both your payments and your insurance until they have responded to your letter.

Under the law, you are allowed to dispute any or all of your debts at any time, however, your debt validation letter must be sent within thirty days of the first written notice of your debt to give yourself the validation rights given to you by the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act).

The response you'll receive from the creditor (Progressive) doesn't need to be any more than a written acknowledgement that the amount you need to pay back is actually the amount you owe.

Debt validation is a tricky issue, especially when dealing with an insurance company, since the laws surrounding the issue are vague and usually benefit the creditor. Still, validating your debt with them gives you the ability to confirm with them that the amount you're paying to them is accurate; they may even notice an error with your payments and adjust the amount you owe accordingly.

Discharging debt, on the other hand, is an entirely different issue. Whereas debt validation is simply a way to validate and confirm the amount you owe to a creditor, discharging debt is the forgiveness or cancellation of a debt. Discharging debt is a very difficult procedure, and oftentimes cannot be done without declaring bankruptcy. And even when you declare bankruptcy to relieve yourself of debt, your credit history will show that you declared bankruptcy, and you won't be able to get loans (or if you do, the interest rate will be very high). Declaring bankruptcy also requires that you pay back your loans by restructuring a new repayment plan or by liquidating (selling) your assets (what you own). Do not declare bankruptcy based on one bad debt alone; bankruptcy is the last resort relieve multiple debts you have no chance to pay off, so don't base your decision upon one debt from your insurance company. Since you've already contacted Progressive, they are aware of your debt validation inquiry; call them to ask about the process and what you can do to speed it up.

There are a few other methods of discharging debt that you can try if you don't get anywhere by calling Progressive. These alternative methods, however, are tricky, require a lot of time and patience, and may not work for you anyway. Read through the following websites to learn about these alternative methods that may or may not allow you discharge your debts without declaring bankruptcy:

You made a good choice of your first step by sending the debt validation letter. Now you will need to wait for a response, as previously stated, call Progressive to speed up the process. You can also call Progressive's customer service at any time to ask about any additional steps you can take to get the issue you're having with your debt to them resolved.

I hit the ground and injured my back. What should I do?

Was it illegal for the tow truck to hook up with me being in the truck?

In most places it is illegal to remove the car with someone either in the car or touching the car. That being said you would have to prove that he knew you were inside the vehicle and did not call the police to remove you but instead acted maliciously with intent to harm by towing the car with you inside or near the car. This would mean that you would need witnesses and would have to fight this in civil court most likely with a lawsuit for injuries. You need less burden of proof in civil court.